Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilheus and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Ilheus and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $688 per month in Ilheus vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,120 per month in Ilheus vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,552 per month in Ilheus vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Ilheus is about 46% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ilheus and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Ilheus48% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.77R$19.30
$4.48฿151
-15.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.82R$137
$45.59฿1,532
-41.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.19R$31.65
$8.76฿294
-29.34%
Cappuccino
$1.81R$9.27
$2.97฿99.7
-39.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11R$5.70
$0.69฿23.07
60.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61R$3.14
$0.39฿13.13
56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78R$9.13
$2.53฿85.1
-29.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75R$14.07
$3.75฿126
-26.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03R$5.27
$2.15฿72.1
-52.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45R$7.42
$1.82฿61.0
-20.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19R$6.09
$2.18฿73.4
-45.41%
Eggs
$1.93R$9.88
$2.25฿75.6
-14.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.08R$87.4
$20.00฿672
-14.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65R$18.69
$3.63฿122
0.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.27R$37.20
$13.56฿455
-46.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08R$10.66
$3.24฿109
-35.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29R$6.61
$1.64฿55.0
-21.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$6.13
$2.33฿78.3
-48.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50R$7.65
$2.07฿69.6
-27.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15R$5.89
$1.55฿52.0
-25.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06R$5.44
$1.46฿48.89
-27.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69R$3.53
$0.98฿33.09
-29.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.43
$0.48฿16.21
39.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10R$10.72
$4.35฿146
-51.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.52R$38.46
$18.57฿624
-59.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21R$6.18
$1.86฿62.4
-34.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00R$10.24
$2.65฿89.2
-24.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.78
$1.42฿47.62
-34.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.78R$193
$11.57฿389
226.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.66
$3.17฿106
-64.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70R$3.58
$1.03฿34.66
-32.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.26R$32.03
$13.89฿467
-54.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00R$5.09
$1.34฿45.16
-25.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KR$105.1K
$27.8K฿933.8K
-26.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KR$142.2K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-16.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.2R$313
$123฿4,134
-50.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.70R$70.1
$13.77฿463
-0.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.62R$95.3
$18.33฿616
1.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.11R$113
$60.7฿2,039
-63.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.80R$112
$17.16฿577
27.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42R$32.86
$8.87฿298
-27.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$265R$1,355
$688฿23.1K
-61.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,376R$32.6K
$15.8K฿530.2K
-59.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.83R$255
$59.3฿1,992
-15.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09R$215
$34.69฿1,166
21.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.3R$390
$115฿3,870
-33.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.5R$335
$83.8฿2,814
-21.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167R$853
$621฿20.9K
-73.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$118R$604
$446฿15.0K
-73.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$301R$1,540
$2,034฿68.3K
-85.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$227R$1,162
$1,496฿50.3K
-84.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,426R$7,297
$3,455฿116.1K
-58.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,276R$6,526
$2,531฿85.0K
-49.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilheus
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595R$3,046
$494฿16.6K
20.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
5.33
104.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilheus: July 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Ilheus versus $621 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 21% higher in Ilheus, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Ilheus versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $291 – making Ilheus the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ilheus vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ilheus and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $688 in Ilheus, $1,264 in Phuket – roughly 84% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ilheus compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,032 per month in Ilheus and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ilheus and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ilheus, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Ilheus and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ilheus, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Ilheus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ilheus and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $688 in Ilheus to $1,264 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ilheus or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Ilheus and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Ilheus. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.